The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
What state legislators did not do this year the federal government accomplished -- raise taxes on tobacco. Smokers will soon be paying at least 61 cents more per pack of cigarettes. That tax was justified as a way to pay for the the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides coverage for children whose parents don't have health insurance.
Most will agree that SCHIP is a needed program and should have been continued, but paying for it with a tax hike was not the way to go, especially a tax aimed at a specific group of people.
Even our own congressman, Rep. Tom Perriello, called the tax "unfair" and said it would adversely affect jobs and state revenues around the country. But he voted for it anyway. Go figure.
What's so bizarre about this tax hike is the fact that the federal government is preparing to spend almost $1 trillion on economic recovery, and a substantial chunk of that money is considered unnecessary "pork." Providing expanded health coverage for children apparently was not high on the list of priorities for those who crafted the so-called stimulus package.
We certainly agree with Rep. Perriello that the tax is unfair, especially in this region, which still depends to a certain extent on tobacco.
As we've said before, we wish everyone would stop doing things that are detrimental to their health, including abusing tobacco. But we live in a free country, and with that freedom comes choices. We can do our best to educate people about healthy lifestyles, but it's still up to each person. After all, the use of tobacco is legal for adults.
And also as we've said before, why not target alcohol, the abuse of which creates more health and other problems than tobacco.
Although Gov. Tim Kaine and many state legislators were not successful in passing a tax hike on tobacco in this year's General Assembly session, they are working to expand restrictions on where people can smoke. Legislation is moving forward on banning smoking in restaurants and bars, blatantly violating a property owner's rights.
Where will it end? Will government end up dictating every move we make?
|
| |
|
|
|
